Africa-Press – Botswana. Extension II Magistrate Court has ordered that the Ramotswa’s accused serial rapist, Gomolemo Loeto, provide blood sample for DNA profiling few months after voluntarily desisting from doing so.
Appearing before court on Tuesday, State prosecutor Simon Galebonwe revealed that efforts have been made by the investigating officer (IO) Tiboni Lucas for Loeto to comply without luck.
“The accused was to be extracted for a blood sample for DNA examination,” Galebonwe said. “However, he has refused back on April 15 without providing any reasons.”
He stated that on these grounds, it was only plausible for prosecutions to seek an order from court, that will instruct that Loeto provide his blood sample.
“We had sought an order for the blood to be extracted. “So we seek that an order be issued for him to be extracted blood,” Galebonwe pleaded with the court.
Standing in for the substantive magistrate, Magistrate Kamogelo Mmesi asked the accused why he was hell-bent against providing his blood sample for DNA examination.
In his defence, Loeto stated that he wanted things to be done right because to him the State was doing a shady work.
“I did not refuse. I simply asked where the consent forms are to indeed prove that it is my blood that is going to be extracted and be used for DNA profiling,” Loeto responded.
Galebonwe then interjected and was quick to obliterate what the accused said, labelling him as a liar.
“He is not telling the truth. The IO made an effort on April 15 but he still refused and there is always a consent form,” Galebonwe said.
After listening to deliberations from the State and the accused, Mmesi made an order in favour of prosecution.
“The court orders that the accused be followed with an IO with a consent form for extraction of blood,” Mmesi ordered. The case continues on May 13 for a status update.
Loeto is suspected to be a serial rapist in 20 rape cases that were reported in Ramotswa as they have occurred in the same manner.
The DNA profiling by the State is set to determine if he is the man they have been looking for.
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